insulting religions

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

Hi, I've never posted on this topic before, I tend to hang out in aibu, but don't want to start a bun fight!

So, I am a liberal Christian. I firmly believe that everyone had to right to believe (or not) whatever they want, provided that belief doesn't hurt anyone else.

Earlier today I posted a lighthearted status on Facebook, which had led to me being called mindless, stupid, stuck up, thinking I'm better than everyone else. I've been told God is a c**t (sorry I hate that word so much I won't type it) and that the Bible is only God for loo roll!

I'm just really angry that people think its ok to insult me/my religion like that, when I haven't once preached or insulted others.

Obviously the easy solution would be to delete them off of Facebook, but they are people I get on with other wise.

Don't really know the point of my post, just hoping id feel better writing it down.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Am I trying to love Ellie?

I am not trying to anything Ellie.
My thoughts and feelings towards her are the same as the thoughts and feelings I have towards everyone. I hope she enjoys a happy and fulfilling life. I don't feel the need to try. It's just how it is.

Most of the time. When I am angry I have mean thoughts about people.

But I am seldom angry and I have not been angry on this thread.

[sunflowersfollowthesun]

million: I can't decide whether you are trying to be very arrogant (you were too stupid to understand 14 years of 24/7 dogma) or very kind (there's hope for you yet) ?

[SolidGoldFrankensteinandmurgh]

Religion is not about logic - except the logic of the power-hungry and inadequate who are aware that peddling a mixture of stick and carrot in pretty, poetic terms is a good way of exercising control over other people's lives.

[sunflowersfollowthesun]

Million. Can't you see the cynicism in Heb 6 v 4-6?
It's nothing more than bouncers at the church door to counter anyone beginning to doubt or question.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

My point is that questioning is the norm.

[sunflowersfollowthesun]

But you don't question as a small child was the point I was making. Genuflect and pray your way round the stations of the cross is much the same as eat your vegetables to a small child who has never known any other way of life.
If you can reach a level of maturity that allows you to question and are still gullible enough (or frightened, or guilty, or any of the other power tricks used) to fall for it, then that's... very sad.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

But that is the experience of all children, growing up in all households. It is not unique to children in a faith environment.

All children accept their circumstances as normal until they question them.

[sunflowersfollowthesun]

I haven't a clue what you're arguing about, Dione. I think perhaps Ellie had the right idea about you.
The post you are quibbling about was merely trying to illustrate that small children will accept their environment as normal so they don't question what they are required to do. Then they reach a stage where they are mature and confident enough to start to look a little harder at what they've been accepting without question.
So we agree that most people begin to question their faith at some point. You continued to fall for it, I didn't.
So what's your problem?

[DioneTheDiabolist]

I thought that initially you were saying that people growing up in faith households don't question their faith. I made the point that they do.

Then you spoke of how growing up in a faith based household, you didn't question that faith as a child. You accepted it as normal. I made the point that such is the experience of all children. Although I was wondering what point you were making so there is a possibility that our wires have crossed somewhere here.

You continued to fall for it. I didn't.
I don't understand this. What did I continue to fall for.

[AnnieLobeseder]

amillion - my take on it is that a person cannot really reject something they did not properly understand in the first place.

Oh, I understood it alright. I spent most of my teens and early 20s as an evangelical Christian. But it never quite sat right with me, and I have never felt such peace as I did the day I turned my back on religion and took control and responsibility for my own life.

Oddly enough I converted to Judaism later, and as a religion is makes much more sense to me, though I still don't believe in god. I'm a "cultural Jew". One of the good points about Judaism is that faith and belief and not mandatory - a healthy questioning of god is encouraged.

[sunflowersfollowthesun]

One of the good points about Judaism is that faith and belief and not mandatory - a healthy questioning of god is encouraged.
Now that is interesting, Annie. I'd like to hear more about "cultural Jews" but I'm going to bed now (with a glass of wine and the last 50pages of a Phil Rickman novel whilst DH watches the football)
There's a chance that this thread may fill up tonight so we may have to start a new one to continue the discussion. I'll look out for you tomorrow.

[sunflowersfollowthesun]

Oh, OK Dione, I wondered if wires might have been crossed somewhere along the line.
You continued to fall for the dogma while I rejected it. That's all I meant. IMO, obviously.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

No, I ditched it and became an atheist. So did most of the people I know. By the time I left school only 2 of my friend's were religious.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

I was an Athiest for about 15 years.

[SolidGoldFrankensteinandmurgh]

Sunflowers: Ooh, I love Phil Rickman! Which one are you reading?

Dione: Now this is something I really find incomprehensible - that an adult can go from a rational position to embracing illogical superstitions. Would you mind saying how it happened? Obviously if it's too personal or distressing you don't have to.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

SGB, I can tell you what happened. I was in my living room, looking out my window and I felt as though someone came up from behind me and wrapped themselves around me. There was a shift in me and I felt totally at peace. After that the questions came.

It didn't happen at a time of sorrow or pain. It just happened one day.

[SolidGoldFrankensteinandmurgh]

Oh, I've had things like that. It's generally a warm air current or somesuch. But what made you pick a specific mythology to ascribe it to? Was it just cultural ie you went back to the one you were brought up with, or did you pick a new one?

[amillionyears]

Before this thread ends, I would very much like to thank IneedAgoldenNickname for starting this thread. Long threads normally deviate from what was started on them.And this one is no exception!
I hope you have not minded too much, and best wishes to you and your family.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

There was no drive to join or pick a religion. There was a drive to find out more though. As the questions came I sought answers in books, on the Internet and from other people. And the questions don't end. I can't advocate one religion over another or even over none.

I'm sorry I don't have a burning bush, light at the end of the tunnel, booming voice anecdote. It just wasn't like that. The only thing I can liken it to is when you look at flourescent mineral rocks and then you switch on a black light. Everything is still as it was, but now I can something that was always there but that I never saw before.

[SolidGoldFrankensteinandmurgh]

OK Dione, I think I may be not quite up to speed - are you saying that you are, specifically, a Christian now (or indeed again) or that what you believe in is a 'Higher power' or some kind that is not specifically tied to any one myth system?

[Thingiebob]

I'm an atheist. I don't 'respect beliefs'. I respect people, their actions, their feelings and their right to worship whatever deity they choose.

I also believe respect is earned.

[Thingiebob]

I think your friends were very disrespectful of your feelings and I am sorry you feel so hurt.

[sunflowersfollowthesun]

Hi Solidgold, I'm reading The Lamp of the Wicked (No 5 in the Merrily Watkins series I think). I didn't quite finish it, though, I fell asleep. Have you read any of his John Dee ones?

[sunflowersfollowthesun]

Dione, not so different to me then, we just came to different conclusions.
Hey, ho ? whatevergetsyouthroughthenight.

[MadHairDay]

Thankyou to you too Ellie for the discussion. We must have that chat about the historicity of Jesus sometime :)

Looks like the thread is coming to an end, it's been fun.